Men's Issues Therapists in Calgary, AB

My 20+ years experience working with couples and individuals will be noticed. Relationships, Communication, Men's issues and Identity formation are all areas I excel at. I also get to the heart of things efficiently and concisely. Those who have worked with me in the past really appreciate my warmth and how easy it is to get to know me. I am a registered counsellor with the CCPA, and have been a careful student of everything that can help a couple and consistently deliver excellence in the counselling experience. Please see my website for more info at www.relatecounselling.ca

It can be difficult to go to counselling, particularly for the first time. Finding a therapist that you feel comfortable with is an important, and at times challenging, process. You likely want someone that can give you direction or tools, but also you connect with and feel supported by. I too feel this is important and strive to provide you with an experience that is both warm / caring AND competent/ knowledgeable. For many years I have worked with individual's and couple's concerns in this manner. I specialize in helping individuals or couples move forward, heal their pain, feel happier and find more peace.

Coming to therapy can be difficult, especially for men. We're rarely taught how to talk about our feelings, or that it's even acceptable to share them. Whether as individuals, or as part of a couple, I provide an environment where you can talk openly, without shame or embarrassment. When working with couples, I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help partners improve their connection. I ensure that both partners feel safe, acknowledging that it's often male partners who feel the most vulnerable in therapy.

Health or life challenges can leave us feeling overwhelmed. They can impact our relationships, ability to cope, and our self-confidence. I am honoured you are here and I look forward to helping you find a path forward that is right for you. I bring over 18-years of experience supporting and empowering clients through a wide variety of contexts including a counselling agency, private practice, community agencies, and public schools.

In my experience, folks seek counselling for many reasons. Some may feel stuck or tired of tackling long-standing challenges while others may feel unsure about what steps to take to feel better. What I know to be true is that you don’t have to struggle on your own, that support is available, and that you can create change! While I have specialized knowledge in identity development, sexuality, sexual violence, and trauma, I also support individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, career uncertainty, communication or assertiveness skills, neurodiversity (ADHD), relationship challenges, and stress management.

At Masters Counnseling, our counsellors bring genuine compassion and care to their practice, in order to help you flourish, in whatever stage of life you find yourself in. For over 20 years, the Masters Counselling team has created a safe place for you to process your thoughts, explore your feelings and release you into your full potential.

Life is hard! We may be faced with challenges from the time we are young, and sometimes the struggles come later in life. Sometimes we lose ourselves along the way. The good news is that things can change and you are already stronger and wiser than you realize! I believe in the power of human resiliency and people’s capacity for personal growth. You are the expert on your own life, and whether you are working to heal from a past trauma, trying to improve your relationship skills, overcome struggles with anxiety or depression, increase your sense of self-worth, dealing with a loss, or just working to find yourself again. I can help!

Do you feel that no matter what you do, or how much you achieve, you’re never good enough? Even though others admire your drive and accomplishments, you can’t celebrate yourself and you feel you’re always behind. Working long hours, busy with activities, always on your phone, or binging on alcohol or Netflix – it never provides lasting relief from the pain and isolation you feel. Whether you’re just starting out, or you find yourself on a career path that is no longer fulfilling, knowing how to make changes can feel overwhelming. You know your life should be different, better, but you feel stuck and hopeless that things will change.

I believe there is an innate strength in all of us; I also know that living a fulfilling and meaningful life can be a profoundly challenging task. If you are struggling with a life transition, depression, anxiety, or behaviors and emotions that aren't comfortable for you, counselling may be able to help you shift things. A therapist with compassion, empathy, and a base of knowledge about human behavior and psychology can be an extremely powerful agent in achieving change.

My clients say they feel extremely comfortable working together and they appreciate my genuine, down-to-earth and direct counselling style that focuses on clients taking ACTION. My ability to create productive connections with clients is mostly due to my life experiences, especially my own difficult journey to achieving good mental health. I love helping my clients discover and apply new perspectives, new life skills, and new ways of being in the world so they can have more satisfying lives. Life shouldn’t only be about surviving... it should be much more about thriving! Book a free, 25-minute consult with me to learn more.

People have different needs in counselling - some want to be heard and make sense of their experiences, while others want to learn new skills to navigate individual or relationship problems. I work with people who want to improve their mental health or relationships. You might meet with me to process difficult experiences, cope with uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, or change something about your behaviour. You might have been asked to attend counselling by someone else, like a loved one or court. In this case, I will work to clarify what you want to improve and we can focus on this.

Congratulations on taking charge of your life! You are one step closer to getting the help and support that you seek. Asking for help requires courageous vulnerability, and recognizing that you are a "human-being". As humans, we all have limitations in our ability and capacity to handle stress. Asking for help doesn't mean there is something wrong with you, or that you are "broken." rather it may be that you are seeking to make meaningful and lasting change in your life.

There are times when life when we struggle to bridge the gap between what we want vs. what we have. Instead of focusing on criticizing & ruminating, let's develop the mindset you need to feel stronger, as well as more loving & accepting towards yourself & others, I want to help you see beyond the struggle, understand your mind & how it works, learn to tackle the tough stuff effectively, & meet your own needs while staying aligned with your values. The longest relationship you will have is the one with yourself. You deserve for it to be a good one.

In the early stages of our lives, we learn certain ways of coping and survival. These might have been ways of coping with your parents, or your school, or your peers. These might have been ways of surviving trauma, emotional pain, or injury. These ways were necessary to keep you moving forward. Yet, as we grow up, our environment often changes but our ways of coping and survival do not, and what may have kept us alive in the past may be holding us back now. Often, we find ourselves stuck within unhelpful patterns of thought, or with other people or lovers who reinforce those patterns.

I have 16 yrs of experience providing sexuality and relationship counselling. I have found the depth of the topics related to relationships and sexuality to be fascinating. These topics are rarely discussed openly or in detail and often referred to in euphemistic terms that further cloud information. Yet, they are such primary and important parts of being human. While relational issues don't constitute your whole life, they can certainly colour your entire life. I use a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed approach to get clients the best results possible. Accepting new clients. Contact me today for info or to book an appointment.

INSIGHT & PRACTICE FOR CHANGE: I believe we all have the inherent ability to live a meaningful, satisfying, and connected life. At some point most people will become aware or begin to feel that they are somehow "off course", that "something needs to change" or that something new is desired. This realization is an opportunity to "adjust course", take stock, and intentionally re-align our lives. Sometimes small shifts can make incredible differences; other times we are called to dig deep. Whether you want to make personal, professional or relationship shifts, by reaching out to me you can trust that the change process has already started.

Harrison is a Registered Provisional Psychologist who holds both a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology. He has extensive experience working in crisis and suicide intervention and has a special interest in how individuals respond to extreme adversity, trauma, or difficult life transitions such as chronic illness or disability. His other areas of specialty include: men’s health, emotional regulation, anxiety, depression, trauma, addictions, substance use and personality disorders.

You're overwhelmed and second-guessing everything. Often you feel like a failure and an imposter, wondering how you got here. Some days you’re the man you want to be, and others, you’re barely holding it all together. There are days when you feel lost, hopeless, and lacking direction. Stress, anxiety, fear, anger, and even depression are negatively impacting your relationships, your work, and your sense of confidence. You want so much more from your life but are not sure how to get there.

I believe that no one’s life is free of challenges; and that it’s not so much about when or if these times will arrive but rather how we choose to move through them. Connection, to me, is a key piece of effectively navigating life’s difficulties. I strive to offer my clients the space, time and compassion they deserve to do this. I hope to build genuine, non-judgmental relationships supported by evidence based, family-centered therapeutic approaches providing clients with the most meaningful experiences possible.

My heart and passion is for people - all ages, all kinds, and a great desire to see people happy and secure in their life and relationships. Drawing from years of practice and training, my approach is helpful and directive, applying understanding and knowledge to troubling issues.